Fairways to heaven
TAKE SWING AT FUN, EXCITING SEASON AT NATIONAL GOLF EXPO IN SEAPORT DISTRICT
We've had a hint of warm weather, the kind that hints at the glory days to come: golf season. And when you can ditch the heavy coat even once, doesn't it start the itch to dive deep into the sport we love so much?
Good news: Warmer temps or not, the time for golf is here, because the National Golf Expo is at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston tomorrow through Sunday. That means rain, shine, snow or whatever brew New England cooks up, it's all golf all day (and night) long this weekend.
The National Golf Expo is much more than just a cure for cabin fever. It's packed with all
kinds of golf fun, including seminars, 10-minute lessons with pros, a chance to check out the goods from all the major club manufacturers, time to chat with representatives from golf destinations, interactive challenges and even the Northeast’s largest indoor driving range.
Produced by Paragon Tours, the event takes place in cooperation with Mass Golf, the new group formed by the merger of the Massachusetts Golf Association and the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts. Mass Golf’s goal is to be a resource for all golfers in the state in all matters golf. Both former organizations were instrumental in building golf as a sport for men and women not just in Massachusetts, but worldwide. Now as one organization, Mass Golf looks to provide even better services to its more than 360 member clubs and offer even more opportunities for golfers to enjoy the game. Mass Golf organizes tournaments, charity events and more. It helps develop and support junior golfers, and will be on hand at the Expo.
Learn more at massgolf. org.
Though the Expo features more than 100 exhibitors stretching through the Seaport World Trade Center, it’s easy to navigate.
In addition to that driving range, you’ll find all the major golf club manufacturers set up to help you find the right equipment, letting you test clubs and actually hit balls. By watching you and the clubs in action, these experts can figure out the best clubs for you, analyze you for a club fitting and help you find the best place to go for the fitting experience.
There’s learning to be had, too. You’ll have chances for 10-minute tuneups with New England PGA pros. Focusing on a specific problem? The pros will be on hand to work with you.
Seminars take place all weekend long. Some of the many topics include “Golf Fitness for Women,” “The Importance of Club Fitting,” “Improving Your Golf Game and Fitness Level
at the Same Time” and even “Why You Need to be Lifting for Golf.” Seminar times and details are listed at golfexpoboston.com. Seminars are open to all guests of the Expo.
Putting greens, interactive challenges of chipping, long putts, longest drive and even a three-hole putting contest will be going on all weekend. There are raffles, too: You can win a club fitting and other great prizes.
Then you can turn your dreams into plans. With a wide range of area golf clubs and golf destination resorts to help you make plans, you can design your entire summer — and even coming year — of golf right there at the Expo.
At the Ocean City Maryland booth (#618), which includes Harrison Group Golf, you'll learn about a wonderful — and easy to get to — golf vacation spot that feels so far away yet is just down the coast. In Ocean City, Md., you can enjoy the beach and golf year-round. With 22 unique courses, including the flagship Links at Lighthouse Sound, you'll find many ways to challenge your game and want to come back for more.
Since 1951, the Harrison Group Golf team has established a reputation for quality service and hospitality with great knowledge of golf and the surrounding area. With one phone call, you can set your tee time and find a comfortable oceanfront stay.
Harrison Group also offers oceanfront accommodations for any wallet. Be pampered at the Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites, relax at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront or go tropical at the Quality Inn Oceanfront. The budgetconscious will find the Flagship Oceanfront Hotel a perfect location. Or, enjoy the new DoubleTree Ocean
City Oceanfront, opening this summer.
Learn more at tee1off. com.
You can discover that true Scottish golf feeling — just a quick drive out of Boston. The Links at Outlook will be on hand to share its totally Scottish experience in South Berwick, Maine, a little over an hour's drive from the Hub. There you can play, stay and dine in Scottish style. The course, with undulating bent grass fairways and greens, is surrounded by rolling dunes and sand bunkers that come into play. And the views are as worthy as the rounds. There are many play-and-stay packages as well. Learn more at outlookgolf.com.
For the truly big planner (or dreamer), the folks to see are at Tour of Greater Boston — the only member club around with, get this, 990 golf holes to play. The
Tour of Greater Boston is a “non-real estate” golf club: Being a member allows you to play socially on many courses or, for the competitive soul, take part in tournaments all over. The Tour uses a virtual clubhouse where all administrative activity is managed. Sign up for events with a click of the mouse, request to be paired with a friend, register a guest or join in a conversation, or find “off Tour” playing partners on the bulletin board. Courses such as Myopia Hunt Club, Red Tail, Eastward Ho!, Oyster Harbors, Thorney Lea, Wannamoisett, Granite Links and more are part of your “club.” Included in the more than 50 events offered each year are 10 of the top Golf Digest Magazine-rated courses in New England. Learn more at golfthetour.com, and of course by chatting with the folks at the Expo.
The Expo is a familyfriendly event. Junior golfers love it, and it’s not uncommon to see families as well as groups of male and female golf buddies there to get their first taste of the upcoming golf season.
Show hours are from noon to 7 p.m. tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. No tee times needed — just a low admission price of $12 for adults, $10 for those 65 and older, and free for kids 12 and younger. Learn more at golfexpoboston.com.